Can openers



y 4, 1955 H. J. ECKSTEIN 2,755,958

CAN OPENERS Filed March 26. 1953 INVENTOR. HARRY J. ECKSTEIN ATTORNEYCAN OPENERS Harry J. Eckstein, Salem, Oreg. Application March 26, 1953,Serial No. 344,324 Claims. (Cl. 2l 0-.-52)

My invention relates to can openers andis particularly adapted forremoving unsealing or unwindin bandsfrom cofiee cans and the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an opening device thatwill unwind the band from the can and maintain the same in alignmentwith itself throughout the complete unwinding of the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for adaptingthe opening to various widths of bands. 7 A still further object of myinvention is the provision of means for ejecting the unwound band fromthe opener when the same is coiled up therein after having been removedfrom the can.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings,specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my new and improved opener as it isapplied to the unwinding band of a sealed can.

Figure 2 is an end sectional view of the opener and a sectional view ofthe can with the band being removed therefrom, taken on line 22 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction indicated.

Figure 3 is a plan sectional view of the can and opener taken on line3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is the same as Figure 2, except that the ejector and shim pieceis brought into position for unwinding a narrow band, and taken on line5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an end sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1,showing the crank withdrawn from the band and the ejector being pushedin the direction of the arrow for ejecting the band from the opener.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the opener being applied tothe can for removing a narrow strip just before the band is unwound.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a disposable opener.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of the can looking into the edge of theopener removing the band.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the method of mounting theguides on the stem of the opener.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

My new and improved can opener consists of spaced parallel bars 1 and 2,having a reverse bend 3 at their one end and being brought together at 4at their opposite end and adapted to be inserted in the handle 5. Abifurcated shaft 6 is adapted to pass through the openings 7 of the bar2 and an opening 8 of the bar 1 when the opener is being used.

When the opener is not in use the shaft 6 is withdrawn to the positionshown in Figure 5. The amount that the shaft can be withdrawn is limitedby the stop 9 which is formed on the bar 2, as best illustrated inFigure 5. Limit stops 10 are formed on the side of the shaft preventingthe said shaft from passing through the opening 11 of the stop 9,therefore the shaft 6 is never disconnected from the opener while not inuse.

A crank 12 forms part of the shaft 6 and is adapted to can being openedby a handle having at 2,755,958 Patented July 24, 1956 ice 2 rotate thesame on opening the can, which will be more fully described later. Alever 13 is pivotally mounted at 14-to the lowerbar 1. The purpose ofthis lever is to eject the unwinding band from the opener as shown inFigure-5 and actsas a spacer as shown in Figures 4 and 6 for-narrowbands.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of my new and improvedmethod'of removing unwinding bands from cans. This is adisposable-opener wherein guides 15 and 16 are rotatably mounted-on-theshaft 17 and spacedapart by the limit stops 1-8.and -the guide-16 beingheld in positionby the limit stops-19. The shaft 17 is removable fromthe portion 20, which is-soldered-to the can;2 1 inthe usual-manner. As1ot 22is formed in the shaft and is adapted to receive the end of theunwinding band.

I will now describe-my new and improved can openers. Referring to Figure6, the sides of the bars 1 and} closest to the shaft 6 are broughtagainst the side ofthe can. The end -of the unwinding band is insertedwithin the bifurcated end of the-sha-ft 6, after which the crank 12 isrotated in thedirection of the arrow, rolling up the unwindingband,removing the same from thecan. The principle of this invention isthatthis band is being rolled between the bars 1 and 2 which guide thesame within itself, not dependingzupon the contact of the opener withthe can.

"Figures 1, '2, 3 and 5 illustrate a wide a band being -4--and 6illustrate a narrow band 1 and 3. Figure 5 illustrates the wide bandbeing ejected by the said lever 13.

In the case of the opener shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the guides 15 and16 embrace the sides of the unwinding band, guiding the same withinitself during the opening of the can.

The principle of both of my forms of invention is to hold the coil ofthe unwinding band in alignment with itself until the band has beenremoved from the can. It requires no attention from the operator afterthe same has been started.

What I claim is:

l. A can opener of the type for removing a sealing band betweenseparable parts of a can, comprising a one end spaced apart horizontalguides formed with aligned openings, a bearing on one of the guides,said bearing having a horizontal portion positioned parallel with thespaced-apart guides so as to form at least three parallel members, avertically movable and rotatable stern mounted in the bearing lIlalignment with parallel with the axis of said stem, an ejector hinged tothe horizontal guides so as to swing between them, and means between thebearing and the guides to retain the stem in position to register withand engage in the openings when thrust downwardly to position the slotbetween the guides to receive the free end of and hold said band to bewound when the stem is rotated.

2. A can opener of the type for removing a sealing hand betweenseparable parts of a can, as defined in claim 1, wherein the bandreceiving slot is at the lower end of band.

3. A can opener of the type for removing a sealing band between the topand body portion of a can, comprising a pair of spaced-apart guides toreceive the free end of a band to be removed, the guides having alignedopenings, a rotatable and vertically reciprocal stem having a slot inits free end to receive the free end of a band mounted in the alignedopenings in said guides, means for holding the lower slotted end of thestem in the opening in the upper guide when the stem is in elevatedposition, said means contacting with the upper guide when the stem isdepressed to engage the opening in the lower guide and position the slotbetween the guides to receive the free end of a band, an ejector hingedto the spaced-apart guides so as to swing between them, and a handle forrotating the stem.

4. A can opener of the type for removing a sealing hand between the topand body portion of a can comprising a pair of spaced-apart guides toreceive the free end of a band to be removed, aligned openings in theguides, a rotatable and vertically reciprocal stem having a slot in itsfree end to receive the free end of a band mounted in the alignedopenings in said guides, means for holding the lower slotted end of thestem in the opening in the upper guide when the stem is in elevatedposition, said means contacting with the upper guide when the stem isdepressed to engage the opening in the lower guide and position the slotbetween the guides to receive the free end of a band, a handle forrotating the stem, and an ejector pivoted between the guides to swingacross the axis of the openings to remove a band after having been woundon the stem and the stem is elevated and free of said band.

5. A can opener of the type for removing a sealing band between the topand body portion of a can comprising a pair of spaced-apart guides toreceive the free end of a band to be removed, aligned openings in theguides, a rotatable and vertically reciprocal stem having a slot in itsfree end to receive the free end of a band mounted in the alignedopenings in said guides, means for holding the lower slotted end of thestem in the opening in the upper guide when the stem is in elevatedposition, said means contacting with the upper guide when the stem isdepressed to engage the opening in the lower guide and position the slotbetween the guides to receive the free end of a band, a handle forrotating the stem, and a lever pivoted between the guides, said leverhaving a notch on one edge to register with the aligned openings whenturned inwardly between the guides whereby the space between the guidesis reduced to accommodate bands of less width than the distance betweenthe spaced-apart guides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,199,790 Holcomb Oct. 3, 1916 1,646,719 Young Oct. 25, 1927 1,911,613Epstein May 30, 1933 2,068,597 Dazey Jan. 19, 1937 2,140,151 Dazey Dec.13, 1938 2,572,820 Schluter Oct. 23, 1951 2,612,287 Snook Sept. 30, 19522,649,990 Lyle Aug. 25, 1953 2,660,331 Inman Nov. 24, 1953 2,693,897Johnston et al Nov. 9, 1954

